Two long-standing New York foodservice consulting firms, Beer Associates and Jacobs/Doland Associates, have merged their businesses. The new firm, to be known as Jacobs/Doland/Beer, will remain in its New York offices as well as... »

The Middleby Corp. announced May 31 that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of UK-based Lincat Group plc for about $90 million. The Lincat Group has annual revenues of approximately $50 million. In addition to... »

Insinger Machine Co., the Philadelphia-based warewashing equipment maker, has received approval and verification by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. Insinger CEO Robert... »

In spite of the bite of rising gasoline and food prices, the restaurant industry continued to expand in April, according to the latest Restaurant Performance Index data from the National Restaurant Association. The overall index... »

The U.S. economy produced only 54,000 new jobs in May, disappointing many analysts and investors, who took the news as a sign of the weakness of the current economic recovery. The unemployment rate also crept up 0.1 point to... »

After soaring more than 30% since last September, prices for stainless and carbon steels, as well as for some key nonferrous metals, fell back a bit in May. The commodity price index for metals maintained by The Economist was off... »

Consumer confidence finished with a split decision in May, while gasoline prices continued to fall from their highs in April. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index fell more than five points to 60.8 in May. On the... »

Bar and tavern owners in Nevada are seeking to ease restrictions on indoor smoking, arguing that the state’s law intended to protect the health of children and families has crippled their businesses by barring them from serving... »

Complying with regulatory issues in California has become so onerous and expensive that at least one chain says it’s fed up and might leave the state. Andrew Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants, which counts Carl's Jr. and Hardee’s... »

The folks behind how operations utilize air and water are getting together this month to brainstorm. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers will hold its annual conference, titled... »

McDonald’s is under fire for its Happy Meals, its marketing practices, and now, for its enduring mascot, Ronald McDonald. The Oak Brook, Ill., company fended off challenges to all three at its annual shareholders meeting May... »

Six suppliers and 10 member dealers were honored at Allied Buying Corp.’s spring conference, May 3-6 in San Diego. Suppliers recognized for Outstanding Sales Achievement-Volume Growth were Candle Lamp Co., Nor-Lake and Vollrath... »

Summer is not yet officially here, but dealer sales people, sales managers and key management can kick off the hot-weather selling season with a June 8 teleconference sponsored by the Foodservice Equipment Distributors... »

Charles “Chuck” Fadel, retired CEO of Fadels Inc. Foodservice, Equipment and Supplies, Charlotte, N.C., passed away May 18. He was 86. After serving in the Marines in World War II in the Pacific Theater, Fadel joined his mother... »

Two senior-level appointments have been announced by Middleby Corp. James Pool has been named president of TurboChef, the Carrollton, Texas, oven manufacturer. He’ll oversee day-to-day sales and operations. Pool succeeds Paul... »

The Certified Food Service Professional program has recently undergone two changes that should streamline the application and updating processes. First, the point-earning/recording requirements have been simplified and the North... »

More dealers made the trip to Chicago’s McCormick Place for the 92nd annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show last month. The association released attendance numbers that showed a 6% rise in attendance... »

Maines Paper & Food Service is the sole E&S distributor among the eleven companies recognized this year by Darden Restaurants with its annual William B. Darden Distinguished Supplier Award. Named for the company's late... »

First of all, I want to thank all of you who helped us with data for our new FER Top Dealer listings. The data will appear in our June issue, which you should receive any day. I especially want to thank the 31 brave dealers and... »

California Pizza Kitchen will be acquired for $470 million by private-equity firm Golden Gate Capital. The deal was announced May 25. San Francisco-based Golden Gate said it would begin its tender offer for the publicly traded... »

It will take four years and at least $1 billion, but McDonald's Corp. is revamping the look—and some of the foodservice equipment—in its 14,000 U.S. outlets. The chain previewed its planned changes to select media and investment... »

Two senior-level appointments have been announced by Middleby Corp. James K. Pool has been named president of TurboChef, the Carrollton, Texas, oven manufacturer. He’ll oversee day-to-day sales and operations. Pool succeeds Paul... »

Manitowoc Foodservice has appointed company veteran Chris Karssiens as v.p./g.m. for its Jackson MSC division. Karssiens adds the new post to his current duties as v.p./g.m. of Delfield Refrigeration. During the past 13 years,... »

Tina Reese has been appointed v.p.-operations at Commercial Appliance Parts & Service. She’ll head up Commercial’s headquarters in Tampa, Fla., and will oversee various operational functions for the entire company, which has... »

Thomas Murray Funka, Sr., the retired owner and president of The Zeroll Co., has died. He purchased the ice cream scoop manufacturer in 1968. He and his brother, Art, built the company, then known as Roll Dippers, into a major... »